What is your favourite gift-with-purchase set of 2025?
Posted by CapnRex101,
Love them or loathe them, gifts-with-purchase are becoming increasingly common over the course of each year and 77 were produced during 2025.
Your nominations have narrowed the field to only ten. You can view the entire shortlist and vote for your favourite after the break...
While those listed above were the comfortable favourites, other gifts-with-purchase that performed well in the nominations include 40762 Mixed Flowerpot, 40772 Celebration Series: Luminous Ghost and 40773 The Goonies: The Walshes' Attic.
Which set received your vote? Let us know in the comments and look out for the results in the New Year.
There is still time to nominate your favourites in the other three categories, including your favourite set of 2025.
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95 comments on this article
By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!
Several of these I hadn’t even realised were GWP, just thought they were sets. Went with the snails, they’re cute and funny and don’t rely on being a pre-existing IP
The amount of these “GWP”s that could have been regular sets saddens me
I've none of the mentioned GWP's
I really liked the Smeagol and Deagol set, but the Star Trek Shuttle-pod takes the win for me, it's so damn cool. I've never wanted a GWP to be a normal set as much as that one.
None, the practice is fundamentaly predatory.
Def not any that were unly available with $600+ sets. I miss gwps being for anyone who spent a reasonable amount. Also most of those gwps could be $20 sets which lego seems to be alergic to lately.
Most of them were meh. Didnt feel like any were necessary like rhe Blacktron or Forest hideout ones felt to me. Went with Jane Austen.
@jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
I reckon that LEGO has a policy of deliberately overpricing in the belief that Amazon and other mass retailers will soon offer discounts. To counter that discounting, LEGO releases exclusive promotional sets, so-called GWPs. As long as LEGO continues to overprice, it will also have GWPs that it’s unlikely to offer as standalone sets. The two things - overpricing and exclusive GWPs - go together.
Went with 40767 Space Baby, pretty much the only one I actively sought this year.
Watched a video just this morning about another company offering exclusive GWP with spend threshold. That was from a catalogue from the 1980s, so not a new practice.
Why do I have the gut feeling the Expedition 33 is going to win this...
@DoonsterBuildsLego said:
"Watched a video just this morning about another company offering exclusive GWP with spend threshold. That was from a catalogue from the 1980s, so not a new practice. "
Exclusive, limited run promotional items in retail are not, of course, new. But the combo of gross overpricing, discounting mass retailers (often online) and the opportunity for consumers to recoup some of their spend by selling promotional items on (online) secondary markets is.
@Zander said:
" @jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
I reckon that LEGO has a policy of deliberately overpricing in the belief that Amazon and other mass retailers will soon offer discounts. To counter that discounting, LEGO releases exclusive promotional sets, so-called GWPs. As long as LEGO continues to overprice, it will also have GWPs that it’s unlikely to offer as standalone sets. The two things - overpricing and exclusive GWPs - go together.
"
I have to be more precise: I meant that GWPs should be available to buy AS WELL. So, If you buy the Enterprise, you get the shuttle, too. If you don't want or can't afford the big thing, you should be able to at least buy the small set.
My heart says "Sega Genesis Controller", but that "Tribute to Jane Austen's Books" looks much more attractive.
Grift, Wildly Predatory
No moon car? No vote.
The comments on the nomination post are really quite fascinating. It can be easy to end up with an impression of consensus amongst the community - and of course some sets *are* more widely liked than others enough for compiling a top ten to be possible - but there are some very left field choices. It’s a nice reminder that truly there is someone who loves every set, even if it doesn’t suit our personal tastes.
Meanwhile, because I am personally extremely basic, all four of my personal finalists are in this list, and I must once again suffer the agony of just picking *one*. Sob.
None. STOP it
But if I had to choose, clearly 6596072
@jkb said:
" @Zander said:
" @jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
I reckon that LEGO has a policy of deliberately overpricing in the belief that Amazon and other mass retailers will soon offer discounts. To counter that discounting, LEGO releases exclusive promotional sets, so-called GWPs. As long as LEGO continues to overprice, it will also have GWPs that it’s unlikely to offer as standalone sets. The two things - overpricing and exclusive GWPs - go together.
"
I have to be more precise: I meant that GWPs should be available to buy AS WELL. So, If you buy the Enterprise, you get the shuttle, too. If you don't want or can't afford the big thing, you should be able to at least buy the small set."
But they don't want to sell you the GWP for cheap. They want you to buy the big expensive set and then 'reward' you with an additional set. It appears to be working very well for them, so I don't think it's going to end anytime soon.
That said, most GWPs end up on the aftermarket, so you can still easily get those without having to buy the big expensive set(s) they come bundled with. If it's a GWP that I reckon will be widely available on the aftermarket, and not too expensive, I might just get it there.
I voted for the Winter Gazebo, which is a GWP I really wanted to have for my winter village. I did splurge to make the additional purchase at LEGO to get it, and I'm fully aware that makes me part of the 'problem', but I don't regret it either.
My vote goes to Up-scaled Baby Astronaut. I hope they make it in more colors as a regular set, as they should have done in the first place.
@twodoors said:
"No moon car? No vote."
The moon car wasn’t a GWP, but an insiders reward ( I think )
Just as the retro space explorer and the micro command centre with space babies
@sanderkoenen said:"I've none of the mentioned GWP's"
I have 40766 and 40767. I love classic literature, but I also love Classic Space, so voted for the Spacebaby.
@chaosderek said:
" @twodoors said:
"No moon car? No vote."
The moon car wasn’t a GWP, but an insiders reward ( I think )
Just as the retro space explorer and the micro command centre with space babies"
Correct, 40789 was an Insiders reward. So you still had to buy sets to get it, but not all at once.
@jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
Won't happen; these GWP are classic capitalism/marketing 101 tactic to get you to buy sets at full retail price upon first release
@jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
Even if they held off for like a year or something, it would still serve as a nice incentive, plus they'd be able to profit off it a lot more and everyone would be happy. I wonder if they have data that says the GWP's really drive sales that massively that it's worth it.
For those who come after...
So nowwww we split the 4 categories, lol.
I would honestly support any of these winning as it’s a really good group. I missed out on Jane Austen and the Gilligan Shuttle (a 3 hour tour…) and still lament them.
But my heart lies in a very small though upscaled space baby.
I went with 40765. It was a great companion for 75409, while also being a set that would not have worked near as well as a normal set release due to the included ship's obscurity. The Clone Cadet minifigures were also excellent, and you get three of them.
@jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
They are available to everyone, a lot of people will offer them for sale on Ebay or BL so you can buy them there. The fact that a lot of them linger on those two sites for years pretty much proves they wouldn't be very popular as a stand-alone set on the shelves. I'm pretty sure that's part of the reason they do GWP's. That way they can justify making a set that wouldn't sell well on it's own.
@yellowcastle said:
"So nowwww we split the 4 categories, lol."
There's no "now" about it, it's been four categories since 2023's polls.
I mean, many of these gwp's are cool, but my favorite one is 40775 Mini Knight's Castle.
Out of curiosity why wasn't that set included in this list?
@shaase said:
" @jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
Won't happen; these GWP are classic capitalism/marketing 101 tactic to get you to buy sets at full retail price upon first release"
That's why I don't buy what they want me to bu in the first place. I didn't learn much in my life, but my impulse control works.
So, no "favorite theme" poll this year? I always enjoy the funky mishmash graphic you put together for that one.
@zipper said:
"I mean, many of these gwp's are cool, but my favorite one is 40775 Mini Knight's Castle.
Out of curiosity why wasn't that set included in this list?"
Not enough people nominated it and/or voted for posts nominating it.
I didn’t get my hands on any of these, so I voted for the one I most wish I did.
@oldtodd33 said:
" @jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
They are available to everyone, a lot of people will offer them for sale on Ebay or BL so you can buy them there. The fact that a lot of them linger on those two sites for years pretty much proves they wouldn't be very popular as a stand-alone set on the shelves. I'm pretty sure that's part of the reason they do GWP's. That way they can justify making a set that wouldn't sell well on it's own. "
That’s a good point, but the opposite could also be true. The GWPs are so in-demand that resellers can always sell them for a high price on the secondary market.
Thankfully 99% of the time a GWP isn't going to entice me to buy a set day one. I always wait. It has to be a spectacular GWP AND SET to be wanting to get me to pay full price immediately. I'm okay with waiting. I have such a huge backlog it is pointless for me to buy anything day one. The only set I've done so was Gizmo because Target had it with a pre-order discount for whatever reason. Otherwise I would have waited (naturally it went on sale at Target a few months later for about $5 less).
@Bored_in_Suburbia said:
" @oldtodd33 said:
" @jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
They are available to everyone, a lot of people will offer them for sale on Ebay or BL so you can buy them there. The fact that a lot of them linger on those two sites for years pretty much proves they wouldn't be very popular as a stand-alone set on the shelves. I'm pretty sure that's part of the reason they do GWP's. That way they can justify making a set that wouldn't sell well on it's own. "
That’s a good point, but the opposite could also be true. The GWPs are so in-demand that resellers can always sell them for a high price on the secondary market.
"
The SECONDARYmarket shouldn't be a thing in the FIRST place. If a company takes that into consideration before product launch, something is very, very wrong.
No 30692 Christmas Chimney Fun with Santa in the options?! WTF are we even doing here?
Just kidding, that set is crap. Not sure how that nightmare fuel ever got made as a real “set”. I happily accepted it as I purchased my son’s Christmas gift, but the thing will never be assembled and parts will be sorted into the bins.
My most favorite GWP?
--> An available one.
not sure its worth 'celebrating' the GWP practices
I never buy anything to get the GWP. If I buy and get one great. My vote goes to Kamino
None. Would be a fun little thing if it wasn't a FOMO inducing sales practice.
This is like picking a favorite child...
I REALLY wanted the winter gazebo as I collect Christmas sets. I gambled on the gazebo being available on the aftermarket. My mistake. There are so few of them available that the prices are nuts —50€. I should have just bought more Lego to get the GWP but most other holiday sets were already on back order. Really feel played by Lego this year.
@ToysFromTheAttic said:
" @jkb said:
" @Zander said:
" @jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
I reckon that LEGO has a policy of deliberately overpricing in the belief that Amazon and other mass retailers will soon offer discounts. To counter that discounting, LEGO releases exclusive promotional sets, so-called GWPs. As long as LEGO continues to overprice, it will also have GWPs that it’s unlikely to offer as standalone sets. The two things - overpricing and exclusive GWPs - go together.
"
I have to be more precise: I meant that GWPs should be available to buy AS WELL. So, If you buy the Enterprise, you get the shuttle, too. If you don't want or can't afford the big thing, you should be able to at least buy the small set."
But they don't want to sell you the GWP for cheap. They want you to buy the big expensive set and then 'reward' you with an additional set. It appears to be working very well for them, so I don't think it's going to end anytime soon.
That said, most GWPs end up on the aftermarket, so you can still easily get those without having to buy the big expensive set(s) they come bundled with. If it's a GWP that I reckon will be widely available on the aftermarket, and not too expensive, I might just get it there.
I voted for the Winter Gazebo, which is a GWP I really wanted to have for my winter village. I did splurge to make the additional purchase at LEGO to get it, and I'm fully aware that makes me part of the 'problem', but I don't regret it either."
I'm clearly in a minority as I consider the GWP system to be one of the best things about LEGO. I only place an order if there is at least one GWP available, normally two. An exclusive GWP is the only incentive to buy day one, but it needs to be a very good GWP, and one worthy of the main set's price. That was what was so shocking about the Death Star's GWP. The most expensive LEGO set ever and one of the worst GWPs they have ever produced. It was an incentive NOT to buy it. They should have given at least two GWPs with that set, each worth at least £40 RRP. The bigger and more expensive the main set, the bigger and more valuable the GWP needs to be. That is the correlation LEGO are missing, and it's getting worse.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @yellowcastle said:
"So nowwww we split the 4 categories, lol."
There's no "now" about it, it's been four categories since 2023's polls."
Yes, there is. :o)
The submission article included all 4 categories and was a mess to participate in and/or read. The final poll articles are thankfully going to be split by categories.
Anyone who answers for those closely tied to a set release are wrong. Stop punishing your fellow Lego fans by accepting such shenanigans.
I like GWP, what I don't like are GWP that should have been included in the main set. Goonies and fishtank filter come to mind. I even put the Star Trek shuttle in this category because of the fig. Instead of enticing me to purchase, it poisons the well and I refuse to get the set in question. To a lesser extent I still dislike the practice of tying GWP to a particular set ore even a particular theme, ie corner kiosk. I much prefer GWP that are given as long as you meet some purchase threshold. For that reason the friendly snails win.
The Goonies had the best gwp. Close second and third are Kamino and the space baby. If i knew more about Star Trek then maybe that ship would end up higher for me.
The Goonies had everything (except Rosalita) but is not on the list so i won’t vote
@shaase said:
" @jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
Won't happen; these GWP are classic capitalism/marketing 101 tactic to get you to buy sets at full retail price upon first release"
Plus if they sell them, they are no longer really (exclusive) Gifts with Purchase and definitely not an incentive to place a big order so no longer fit for purpose. LEGO fans will probably keep complaining and at some stage LEGO will just say screw it, no more GWP. That will probably also be the point at which they cut selling through Amazon and other retailers, so won't need to do incentives to buy direct.
@megafig said:
"To a lesser extent I still dislike the practice of tying GWP to a particular set ore even a particular theme, ie corner kiosk. I much prefer GWP that are given as long as you meet some purchase threshold. For that reason the friendly snails win."
I found the corner kiosk goes well with any city, it doesn't need a specific modular building or even any modular building so is not really tied to any theme. Whereas for me, the snails don't go with anything except maybe Creator and they look a bit crap on their own.
Although I have 5 of those GWPs, I put the Shuttle Pod 40768 as my favourite ones (I do not own it). I really would have bought that as a standalone set and I do not have an strong enough connection to that spaceship to spend that kind of money on it. Let's hope we get the Original (or Kelvin Line) model next year for the 60th and the GWP is just as good. If I had to limit myself to those I own and the list provided, I would put the baby red astronaut 40767.
I like GWP (let's say I have no aversion to them) but I would like GWPs to be available for longer: (i.e. Shuttle Pod if you buy Star Trek ship should still be available one month after the set was released for example - same could said for PotC 10365 and Endurance 10335 ). This would have not changed a thing for me and the shuttle pod, but at least the true fans could at least get it - not everyone has that kind of money on any given day with a one-two days windows. Or Lego could change its release date/time - insiders day, prime days and black friday are all at a time when expenses are already high for most people.
@PjtorXmos said:
"None, the practice is fundamentally predatory."
I do like some of the GWP sets in and of themselves, and occasionally, I even obtain them organically as part of an order I'd have placed anyway. But more and more, I agree with this.
If you want to give me a "free gift," I welcome that. If you want to manufacture FOMO and drive sales by releasing limited "rider" sets with increasingly severe stipulations...and the latest trend: sets that are pictured as though they are included with your large, premium, mothership set rather than as a GWP...get F'd. Bad form. A low point in LEGO customer relations. Let's reign it in, Niels.
I loath the very concept of GWPs. Either give us some small Add-On to your sets anyone can buy (heck, maybe even JUST the small thing: I have neither money nor space for the Enterprise - but I would have bought the Shuttle immediately!) OR include them with your expensive sets in the first place OR at the very least give it to everyone who buys it directly from your website. Not only for a day or two, but while the set is on the shelf.
I didn’t vote for any. As many have echoed above, I strongly dislike the whole concept. It isn’t a ‘gift’ at all as we end up paying for these sets through inflated prices. I can’t stand how we now feel like we should only buy sets at a particular time to feel like we are benefitting. Same as the double points weekends - e.g. should I buy something now when I want it or wait until double points are offered. All enjoyment of the hobby is being sapped by the greed.
@DoonsterBuildsLego said:
"Went with 40767 Space Baby, pretty much the only one I actively sought this year.
Watched a video just this morning about another company offering exclusive GWP with spend threshold. That was from a catalogue from the 1980s, so not a new practice. "
I don't have enough info to know if that's an apples-to-apples scenario, but the trend with LEGO GWP practices is that they are bad and getting worse.
@twodoors said:
"No moon car? No vote."
I wouldn't think that qualifies, as it is available through exchange of 'Insiders Reward' points (which admittedly, still requires an additional purchase to trigger) rather than being exclusively available with the purchase of another set/theme/spend threshold.
@jkb said:
"The SECONDARYmarket shouldn't be a thing in the FIRST place."
This might be the most insane statement I've ever seen on Brickset.
Which ever one sold for the most on EBay.
Space Mafia!
While I don't have it myself, it's the upscaled CS baby for me.
@CCC said:
" @shaase said:
" @jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
Won't happen; these GWP are classic capitalism/marketing 101 tactic to get you to buy sets at full retail price upon first release"
Plus if they sell them, they are no longer really (exclusive) Gifts with Purchase and definitely not an incentive to place a big order so no longer fit for purpose. LEGO fans will probably keep complaining and at some stage LEGO will just say screw it, no more GWP. That will probably also be the point at which they cut selling through Amazon and other retailers, so won't need to do incentives to buy direct. "
See, I DO understand the mechanics, I just disapprove.
@Andrusi said:
" @jkb said:
"The SECONDARYmarket shouldn't be a thing in the FIRST place."
This might be the most insane statement I've ever seen on Brickset."
I wouldn't say it's the *most* insane, but it's pretty out there, yeah. Not every set on eBay or Bricklink or wherever is some scalper. Many of them are people downsizing their collections, or getting rid of sets they've lost interest in, or something like that.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @Andrusi said:
" @jkb said:
"The SECONDARYmarket shouldn't be a thing in the FIRST place."
This might be the most insane statement I've ever seen on Brickset."
I wouldn't say it's the *most* insane, but it's pretty out there, yeah. Not every set on eBay or Bricklink or wherever is some scalper. Many of them are people downsizing their collections, or getting rid of sets they've lost interest in, or something like that."
Once again, it's me being unprecise (sorry, sorry, sorry!): Considerations about the secondary market shouldn't be a thing in PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.
Of course it's fine to buy and sell used stuff ;)
I bought a lot of sets this year but most were not new.
So, no GWP for me.
However, I’m quite excited about the upcoming medieval Sea Serpent ship!
@CCC said:
"Plus if they sell them, they are no longer really (exclusive) Gifts with Purchase and definitely not an incentive to place a big order so no longer fit for purpose."
That word you tried to sneak out parenthetically -- "exclusive" -- is THE problem.
It shouldn't be done. Things were fine when GWPs were "seasonal parts bag" or the like. And there's nothing wrong with just extra rewards points for the sets they (erroneously) feel they need to push out the door the first day. Or we still sometimes see polybags as a GWP (recently Cooper's Flying Mini-Controller).
There are tons of possible incentives without abusing the customers. (And, again, this assumes there needs to be an extra incentive.)
@jkb said:" @TheOtherMike said:" @Andrusi said:" @jkb said:"The SECONDARYmarket shouldn't be a thing in the FIRST place."
This might be the most insane statement I've ever seen on Brickset."
I wouldn't say it's the *most* insane, but it's pretty out there, yeah. Not every set on eBay or Bricklink or wherever is some scalper. Many of them are people downsizing their collections, or getting rid of sets they've lost interest in, or something like that."
Once again, it's me being unprecise (sorry, sorry, sorry!): Considerations about the secondary market shouldn't be a thing in PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.
Do we have hard evidence that it is, though?
Of course it's fine to buy and sell used stuff ;)"
@tomthepirate said:
"I bought a lot of sets this year but most were not new.
So, no GWP for me.
However, I’m quite excited about the upcoming medieval Sea Serpent ship!"
I got 40766 and 40785 (and 30701, but that was because I just happened to place an order at the right time; I wasn't trying for it) with orders, but I bought 40767 on the secondary market. 30688 and 30708 were also GWPs, but I got my copies at Walmart. And yeah, I'm also quite interested to see what the Serpent Ship ends up looking like. Won't be placing an order to get it, but if I like it enough, may get it on Bricklink.
For me, it's the Goonies' attic, but you forgot about it...
@captainpie said:
"The amount of these “GWP”s that could have been regular sets saddens me"
It’s how they get people to purchase direct from Lego. I’ve never purchased anything directly from Lego unless they were running a GWP. Otherwise I would buy everything 20%+ off at a retail store. I still buy 90% of what I buy from retailers, but the GWP’s definitely get me to buy sets from Lego 2-3 times a year.
As my 2 favourites (40777 & 40763) didn't make the poll, I went for my 3rd favourite - 40778 Winter Gazebo. It's been a pretty good year for GWPs. Got a total of 24, without being 'forced' to buy anything I didn't want, or that was available cheaper elsewhere. For those who don't like GWPs just ignore them, but the alternative is much more likely to be a set not existing, rather than a set existing in the form that you want. And, at the end of the day, it's Lego. You can normally make something pretty similar yourself.
I'm not into the "exclusivity"-thing. That's surely a major driving force behind many GWP's, to give those that order on the first day something that other's then can't get, thus luring in the exclusivity-seekers at major releases. For me, just having one of those top-of-the-line sets at all should be exclusive enough. I mean, sets that get a dedicated GWP are usually huge expensive things that regular people can't afford day one anyway. Adding another layer of exclusivity shouldn't be needed.
With that said, seeing how many GWP's there's been in just a year means most of them can't have been such ones I just mentioned.
I like GWP's that are just another little random set, something you can get with anything. Those can push me over the line to make a purchase now rather than later, because it just makes it feel like I'm getting a little more for my money. But the only things I buy directly from Lego are the few sets I really want and that doesn't show up at other retailers. So, actually exclusive sets; Lego-exclusive. Everything else is so overpriced in my region that I can't justify it. I've said it before, I really don't understand how Lego can ask the prices they do when buying directly from them, when they are still making a profit from selling the same stuff at basically half-price through other retailers. As long as that keeps going on, I won't get many GWP's - because I'm simply not buying my Lego from Lego.
@brick_bang_theory said:
"For me, it's the Goonies' attic, but you forgot about it..."
No, not enough people nominated and/or liked the posts doing so.
@Bycougars said:
" @captainpie said:
"The amount of these “GWP”s that could have been regular sets saddens me"
It’s how they get people to purchase direct from Lego."
Lego can have "Lego store exclusive" items without the being tied to specific purchases at only a specific narrow window. They can be "regular sets" but "lego.com and Lego Store only". In fact, they already have these: Check your regional lego.com and click Shop -> Exclusives.
GWPs as they are done are INDEFENSIBLE unless you really like harming yourself and your fellow Lego fan.
It was a tough choice between the Space Baby and Happy Snails. I don't have either, but they're both great.
Although I'm against the whole GWP thing in general.
@HOBBES said:
"Although I have 5 of those GWPs, I put the Shuttle Pod 40768 as my favourite ones (I do not own it). I really would have bought that as a standalone set and I do not have an strong enough connection to that spaceship to spend that kind of money on it. Let's hope we get the Original (or Kelvin Line) model next year for the 60th and the GWP is just as good. If I had to limit myself to those I own and the list provided, I would put the baby red astronaut 40767.
I like GWP (let's say I have no aversion to them) but I would like GWPs to be available for longer: (i.e. Shuttle Pod if you buy Star Trek ship should still be available one month after the set was released for example - same could said for PotC 10365 and Endurance 10335 ). This would have not changed a thing for me and the shuttle pod, but at least the true fans could at least get it - not everyone has that kind of money on any given day with a one-two days windows. Or Lego could change its release date/time - insiders day, prime days and black friday are all at a time when expenses are already high for most people. "
Releasing such an exciting and long awaited set on Black Friday with a spectacular GWP and then running out in hours is simply awful. As @Hobbes noted, many of us had just spent a ton and were also in a tryptophan coma by the time this shuttle came and went. And to those recommending we just go to Bricklink, it’s averaging $100 right now.
Came for the ether screaming. Not disappointed.
@emQ said:
" @CCC said:
"Plus if they sell them, they are no longer really (exclusive) Gifts with Purchase and definitely not an incentive to place a big order so no longer fit for purpose."
That word you tried to sneak out parenthetically -- "exclusive" -- is THE problem.
It shouldn't be done. Things were fine when GWPs were "seasonal parts bag" or the like. And there's nothing wrong with just extra rewards points for the sets they (erroneously) feel they need to push out the door the first day. Or we still sometimes see polybags as a GWP (recently Cooper's Flying Mini-Controller).
There are tons of possible incentives without abusing the customers. (And, again, this assumes there needs to be an extra incentive.)"
Yes there are alternatives, like no more exclusive GWPs. Getting a free set that I can already buy is no incentive for me to place an order as I would probably just buy that set from a different retailer if I wanted it. But then, LEGO already makes loads of sets to purchase, so maybe they don't bother making the one that would have been a GWP. They might as well just do away with GWP and do double Insiders to tempt customers. At least that way you get to choose the free set rather than get the one they choose.
I don't tend to buy from Lego.com as the sometimes quite large saving by buying elsewhere is more of a lure than a set that will take 20 minutes to build. I have nothing against GWP as they are just a sales tactic to encourage spending the RRP on a set and/or buying sooner rather than waiting for discounts at other retailers. I have never had FOMO because I didn't get a (usually very small) set that I didn't even know existed until I saw it on Brickset. If you don't like or agree with the system then don't partake, it isn't mandatory, it's a toy.
@emQ said:
" @Bycougars said:
" @captainpie said:
"The amount of these “GWP”s that could have been regular sets saddens me"
It’s how they get people to purchase direct from Lego."
Lego can have "Lego store exclusive" items without the being tied to specific purchases at only a specific narrow window. They can be "regular sets" but "lego.com and Lego Store only". In fact, they already have these: Check your regional lego.com and click Shop -> Exclusives.
GWPs as they are done are INDEFENSIBLE unless you really like harming yourself and your fellow Lego fan."
And to do that, they have to be regular production sets rather than one off limited runs. With time limited GWPs, LEGO can predict sales numbers for the set and produce a corresponding number of GWPs. Then when they are gone, they are gone. Whereas if they are a regular set, they need constant production and restocking, they need shelf space for something that probably doesn't have that good sales by itself.
I imagine most people that go into a LEGO store don't know about the Star Trek pod, for example. They are unlikely to see one in a retail store. Yet if LEGO did do it as a retail set, those customers might get a negative view because the cheap affordable set has a minor character in it, and you are "forced" to buy the big expensive set to get Picard. It gives tge impression to the regular customer that LEGO are doing something bad for consumers tempting them with cheap sets with minor characters then putting all the popular ones behind a paywall. Whereas without the temptingly cheap set, the customer doesn't feel as manipulated. Whatever they do, someone feels they are doing the wrong thing.
Some Gift With Purchases felt like part of larger sets.
@Lordmoral said:
"Some Gift With Purchases felt like part of larger sets."
Some are part of a series and are marketed that way. The people that want to collect them can then spread purchases out over a year.
@snackyfrench said:
"I REALLY wanted the winter gazebo as I collect Christmas sets. I gambled on the gazebo being available on the aftermarket. My mistake. There are so few of them available that the prices are nuts —50€. I should have just bought more Lego to get the GWP but most other holiday sets were already on back order. Really feel played by Lego this year.
@ToysFromTheAttic said:
" @jkb said:
" @Zander said:
" @jkb said:
"By now, the mere term "GWP" feels like poison to me. Either they make the GWPs available to buy or the practice needs to go!"
I reckon that LEGO has a policy of deliberately overpricing in the belief that Amazon and other mass retailers will soon offer discounts. To counter that discounting, LEGO releases exclusive promotional sets, so-called GWPs. As long as LEGO continues to overprice, it will also have GWPs that it’s unlikely to offer as standalone sets. The two things - overpricing and exclusive GWPs - go together.
"
I have to be more precise: I meant that GWPs should be available to buy AS WELL. So, If you buy the Enterprise, you get the shuttle, too. If you don't want or can't afford the big thing, you should be able to at least buy the small set."
But they don't want to sell you the GWP for cheap. They want you to buy the big expensive set and then 'reward' you with an additional set. It appears to be working very well for them, so I don't think it's going to end anytime soon.
That said, most GWPs end up on the aftermarket, so you can still easily get those without having to buy the big expensive set(s) they come bundled with. If it's a GWP that I reckon will be widely available on the aftermarket, and not too expensive, I might just get it there.
I voted for the Winter Gazebo, which is a GWP I really wanted to have for my winter village. I did splurge to make the additional purchase at LEGO to get it, and I'm fully aware that makes me part of the 'problem', but I don't regret it either."
"
I'm sure the prices will come down once the GWPs don't sell for their current asking prices. Unless if there's an overwhelming demand for it, obviously. I hope you manage to get it in the near future. It's really neat for its size.
This poll really needed a "none" option.
@emQ said:
" @CCC said:
"Plus if they sell them, they are no longer really (exclusive) Gifts with Purchase and definitely not an incentive to place a big order so no longer fit for purpose."
That word you tried to sneak out parenthetically -- "exclusive" -- is THE problem.
It shouldn't be done. Things were fine when GWPs were "seasonal parts bag" or the like. And there's nothing wrong with just extra rewards points for the sets they (erroneously) feel they need to push out the door the first day. Or we still sometimes see polybags as a GWP (recently Cooper's Flying Mini-Controller).
There are tons of possible incentives without abusing the customers. (And, again, this assumes there needs to be an extra incentive.)"
There does need to be an extra incentive to buy upon release. Without it all rational buyers would wait for a double points event or until it is available from another retailer at a discount.
Although LEGO sets are generally toys it is also plain these days that an increasing number of sets are aimed at adults and collectors. Collectors by their very nature desire, if not require, rarity and exclusivity as part of that collection. It's one of the joys of collecting; to own a set few others do. For those who don't collect then they can ignore those sets. I see no problem with exclusive sets. Employees receive exclusive sets every Christmas. The LEGO Inside Tour gives an exclusive set to those who attend. It makes people feel special and that alone justifies it.
I have to admit I didn't get any because I'm not spending that much on Lego anymore. And if I get something, I usually try to get a good deal at a retailer.
For me, it's a final between the Space Baby and the Star Trek set, and goes to the Shuttle, as it was really nice to get an exclusive mini figure here. The rest of the sets were really not good this year, I have to say.
@Morgan19 said:
"This poll really needed a "none" option."
To be fair, this poll was about what it was about (i.e. "your favorite 2025 GWP").
If I'm picking up what you're laying down, I'm not sure that Brickset has run an article about GWP as a concept, nor am I sure they'd want to, given the potential negativity surrounding it (much of which may be valid), but...it's a separate discussion that tends to feature heavily in news topics that have anything to do with GWP for obvious reasons. I'm sure I'm not saying anything you didn't already know though.
I don't like the LEGO GWP trends, but I also fully appreciate peoples' low tolerance for nerd-rage. :) There are greater injustices in the world than recent LEGO GWP practices...but those still suck.
@emQ said:
" @Bycougars said:
" @captainpie said:
"The amount of these “GWP”s that could have been regular sets saddens me"
It’s how they get people to purchase direct from Lego."
Lego can have "Lego store exclusive" items without the being tied to specific purchases at only a specific narrow window. They can be "regular sets" but "lego.com and Lego Store only". In fact, they already have these: Check your regional lego.com and click Shop -> Exclusives.
GWPs as they are done are INDEFENSIBLE unless you really like harming yourself and your fellow Lego fan."
My intent wasn’t to defend Lego doing it, but rather explain why they do it. If they don’t do GWP’s then individuals like myself would never spend a dime buying directly from Lego. Lego wants you to buy directly from Lego instead of buying discounted sets from retailers and sharing their profits with retailers.
@Draykov said:
" @Morgan19 said:
"This poll really needed a "none" option."
To be fair, this poll was about what it was about (i.e. "your favorite 2025 GWP").
If I'm picking up what you're laying down, I'm not sure that Brickset has run an article about GWP as a concept, nor am I sure they'd want to, given the potential negativity surrounding it (much of which may be valid), but...it's a separate discussion that tends to feature heavily in news topics that have anything to do with GWP for obvious reasons. I'm sure I'm not saying anything you didn't already know though.
I don't like the LEGO GWP trends, but I also fully appreciate peoples' low tolerance for nerd-rage. :) There are greater injustices in the world than recent LEGO GWP practices...but those still suck. "
We did publish an article about gifts-with-purchase, their increasing frequency and those tied to specific sets, in November: https://brickset.com/article/125874
Baby Space Upscale is the best to me. Happy new year 2026 to all AFOL and relatives. From Paris, FR with warm regards. David M. (YAB).
@CapnRex101 said
"We did publish an article about gifts-with-purchase, their increasing frequency and those tied to specific sets, in November: https://brickset.com/article/125874 "
Thanks, Rex! Seems like potentially good fodder for discussion, but I must have missed it when it ran. I may have seen it in the news feed and not gotten back to it.
Maybe they should just call some of these Doorbusters since some have literally no shelf life.
or
GWPIYSAAFM
Gift With Purchase If You Set An Alarm For Midnight
@Morgan19 said:
"This poll really needed a "none" option."
It's called not voting.
Star Trek vs Lord of the Rings vs Classic Space Mafia. Let the fight begin!
Shuttlepod back for the win!
Snails and space baby are my picks, whish it was Ranked choice voting :)
@yellowcastle said:
"Shuttlepod back for the win!"
Ferengi trick!
@Doctor_Hugh said:
"Although LEGO sets are generally toys it is also plain these days that an increasing number of sets are aimed at adults and collectors. Collectors by their very nature desire, if not require, rarity and exclusivity as part of that collection. It's one of the joys of collecting; to own a set few others do. For those who don't collect then they can ignore those sets. I see no problem with exclusive sets. Employees receive exclusive sets every Christmas. The LEGO Inside Tour gives an exclusive set to those who attend. It makes people feel special and that alone justifies it."
Believe it or not, not all of us Lego collectors feel a need to lord it over other people by the "rarity" and "exclusivity" of our collections, nor by taking "joy" in "owning a set few others do". For many of us, including yours truly, we just want cool sets that make good toys, good display pieces, and good parts packs, and we don't care one whit how many or how few other people have the same set, nor how "special" it makes us feel.
@iwybs said:
" @Doctor_Hugh said:
"Although LEGO sets are generally toys it is also plain these days that an increasing number of sets are aimed at adults and collectors. Collectors by their very nature desire, if not require, rarity and exclusivity as part of that collection. It's one of the joys of collecting; to own a set few others do. For those who don't collect then they can ignore those sets. I see no problem with exclusive sets. Employees receive exclusive sets every Christmas. The LEGO Inside Tour gives an exclusive set to those who attend. It makes people feel special and that alone justifies it."
Believe it or not, not all of us Lego collectors feel a need to lord it over other people by the "rarity" and "exclusivity" of our collections, nor by taking "joy" in "owning a set few others do". For many of us, including yours truly, we just want cool sets that make good toys, good display pieces, and good parts packs, and we don't care one whit how many or how few other people have the same set, nor how "special" it makes us feel."
There are always exceptions, and you are clearly one of them. A true rarity amongst collectors.